Photos on flickr

I have now uploaded all the photos from the November trip to Nepal onto flickr.  These include the children, women, schools and Mann's wedding.  www.flickr.com/photos/98411

Mann & Sima's wedding was steeped in ritual and lasted for two days.  It was extremely interesting for us to watch and to be part of.  We feel like part of the family and so it was very important for us to be there. 

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to Everyone and a Happy and

Peaceful New Year 2012

NEF has had a very good 2011 with many good programs and the continued success of our students.  We have our first university student studying to be a teacher.  Without NEF's help she could not have achieved this.  We had a successful dental program treating over 200 children.  We have another planned for 2012.  We carried out improvements to Phumbi Bumdi school and have started work at the Gunjara School.  We saw the completion of the Rotary Chimkhola Village School Project.  Our literacy ladies program continues with many new students again this Fall. 
This March seven Rotarians will join me again to visit Chimkhola and our new project at Gunjara and the village school at Christie. 
I wish to thank all of our sponsors and donors for helping to make this a successful year and for your continued support as without you NEF could do none of this work.  Also many thanks for Mann and Jagat who work with such dedication in Nepal as they are the backbone of NEF in Nepal. 
I look forward to another year of helping the Nepali people achieve their dream of a better future for their children.

Back Home

We are now back at home suffering some jet lag but that will pass in a few days.  As I said in my last post it has been a successful trip to Nepal and every day was full.  I did not see all the children but a lot of them.  I am posting some photos here but this week will upload all the photos onto to flickr. www.flickr.com/photos/98411
I will email the sponsors whose children or women that I did see and let them know.


Our happy literacy women



Devi and sister Jyoti, Jyoti quit school but her sister Devi is determined to finish school

Uma who is nearly finished her sewing course and also has found a job as a cook in the Passport Office

Suman who is doing very well in school

I am returning to Nepal on February 20th.  Payments for sponsored children are due by January 15th.  There has not been a lot of response to this so I probably will extend this to January 30th.  This does not include the college students or women. 

Children in a class at Kristie School

On our Way Home

We are enjoying a few days in Hong Kong now and leave for home tomorrow.  Our time in Nepal was busy and quite productive.  We did not see all our children but a lot of them.  We spent time at schools with the help of the Annurpurna Rotary Club looking for those that need help.  We started work at Gunjara School and they already have the new roofing NEF provided in place.  Mann's and Sima's wedding was a highlight which we were so happy to attend.  We spent time with our Nepali family and friends and I managed some more Nepali language lessons with Prem.  Our time was short there but every day was filled and we enjoyed it to the full.  The people of Nepal are wonderful, I love them for their natural friendliness and sincerity.  They are so warm and welcoming.  It is always hard to leave our friends there.  Life for them is hard and we cannot compare it ours.  Fortunately the electricty was not too bad with load  shedding only for about an hour per day but they are saying by the spring it will be for 18 hours which means only six hours of electricity per day again. 
When I get home I will put more photos up here on the blog and also on flickr.

Nepali Hindu Wedding

A few days ago we attended Mann and Sima's wedding.  It was quite the occasion with rituals from the past and Hindu rituals for marriage.  It was attended by over 100 family and friends.  A wedding in Nepal is very important and relatives travel long distances to be there.  The first half is centered only on the groom while the bride is getting ready.  He sits with the Brahmin priest and goes through all the rituals from his holy book and the groom dresses as a peasant.  When the bride arrives the groom changes into a suit.  The bride is dressed in a red sari and veil and then rings are exchanged.  There is a small fire which they have to circle three times.  After the ceremony they sit in red chairs and family and friends place tikkas on their foreheads.  We were honoured as family and given tikkas and malas as well.  This was the first day at Mann's parents home.

The second day the celebration moved to Sima's family home and the tikka ritual continued with many guests from Sima's village of Tatapani.  Also the guests also washed the bride and groom's feet.  They take the water wash the feet and then drink and pour the water over their own heads.  It is something to do with the honouring of the bride and her leaving the family.  We were again honoured as part of the family sitting next to Mann and Sima throughout the ceremony.  It was very interesting and so different from our own culture. 

Kristie Village School

The other day we visited the village of Kristie with a Rotary friend.  It was near Pokhara but high and unfortunately the weather was cloudy and we could not see the view.  It was a lush area with orange, lemon, pomegranite, papaya and banana trees.  Coffee also grew here and one of the school committee was a coffee farmer and he showed us how the beans were harvested and prepared.  We also drank black coffee, which I never do, but it was delicious.  Everything here was totally organic. 
We were welcomed at the school by the children presenting flower malas as usual.  They were in lines, girls one side and boys the other.  The girls presented to me and the boys to Bob each saying their name.  Very touching.  The school was in terrible condition some rooms unusuable with plants growing out of the floor and walls.  The walls were also crumbling and the roof leaking.  They had three new rooms that the government gave them.  Bob came up with the idea of partitioning the new rooms to make six rooms instead of three as a temporary measure.  He felt it was urgent to remove the children from the unsafe rooms that they were in especially the youngest children.  They are going to give us a budget to see if we can help them with this later.  They also had no drinking water.  The children were crowded on benches.  Six children on a bench made for three.  They had no library etc.  Actually they had nothing!!!
Of three new schools we saw last week we felt that Gunjara and Kristie were the most urgent and deserving of any help.  Gunjara has already repaired one roof with the material we sent up last week. 

Accepting flowers from the children

Condition of the classrooms

class one with no desks

Mann picking oranges but still talking on his phone

I have been having computer problems in the last two days as my laptop would not hook up to the wifi, today is okay.  We left Pokhara today which is always sad as we have so many friends there and Mann's family which are like our own.  We also attended Mann's wedding for two days more on that tomorrow and photos. 

Women's Literacy

Yesterday we visited the women's literacy program in Simpani for the second time this week.  There were many new women all wanting to start and many of the original group.  A new lady of 74 was starting and our grandmother, Shree Ram Pun, 68 years old, is now nearing the end of her third year in the class.  In the begining she told me she was too old to learn to read but now she is one of the longest attending students.  As usual they showed their gratitude with many flowers and keta scarves. 
The new handicraft program we wanted to start with about ten students we cannot start for another five months as we found out that the material, a type of grass, is seasonal and only available to be purchased during the summer season so we will have to wait on this. 

Literacy Ladies

Shree Ram Pun

This is still a great program and the women love it and it provides them not only education but a social outlet also.

A Special Moment

Many things have happened in the last two weeks that have been emotional for me but today a really special moment.  We have noticed a young lady in Simpani over the last two or three years who has a handicap and cannot walk unaided.  She has always used a handmade wooden structure with wooden wheels attached.  We thought it would be an advantage for her to have a walker from Canada that would be easier for her to use.  Last year I bought one at a church sale for $10.00.  On this trip we brought it as an extra piece of luggage.  Today we took it to her home where she lives in one room down by the river.  She was so happy and was all smiles while Mann and Bob showed her how to use it and how the brakes worked and showed her that she could also sit on it if she needed to.  She is quite handicapped physically but seemed to be a bright girl.  As we went to leave she said "Thank you Aunty and Uncle".  I got quite a lump in my throat but managed a "swagatum" which is  "you are welcome" in Nepali.  We had never actually met this young lady before but hope that this walker would make her life a little easier. 

Gunjara

Today we visited the village of Gunjara.  This was an amazing day.  It took about an hour to drive to the road up the mountain but we arrived there to find the road washed out.  So the big bag and other supplies we had to carry up.  It was very humid and we were soon sweating buckets.  When we reached the village of Jumuna we stopped for cold drinks and fortunately found a porter to carry the bag.  We finished the steep climb to Gunjara and on the way some children came to help carry our stuff.  We were warmly welcomed at the village school.  Here we have supplied 24 sheets of steel roofing and some desks but they cannot be transported up the road until the weather is better and the road more stable.  We were so very touched by the simplicity of these village children and people.  They had never had to do a welcoming ceremony before so it made it more sincere.  The 40 children who attend the school sat in rows before us with the mothers gathered around them.  We had some very simple speeches and then we presented the children with novelty pens and hats which caused a lot of excitement.  We had a bag of clothes but left these for the principal to give out.  We presented a football and badminton set.  The school is in deplorable condition but at least the roofing and desks are a start.  Now the children will be able to attend school when it rains.   They played music for us and we danced with the women.  A delicious lunch was prepared for us at one of the village houses.  This village has virtually no water.  In the dry season there is none.  I, of course, needed a toilet after lunch and two women led me some distance to a hole in the ground surrounded by a canvas sheet.  When I came out they had warm water for me to wash my hands and were delighted to tell me that it was warm.  They held onto to me while we walked back.  These women are amazing and just love to look after me.  I was just so touched.  This village would never see white people.  They wanted us to look at their orange tree orchard but we did not have time unfortunately but they gave us a bag of the most delicious oranges.  These really are organic. 

Gunjara School children

Child happy with pen and hat

It was such a great visit.  I could not help but think how lucky I was to experience these visits to remote villages.  We cannot imagine the life these people live, like waiting all day for a bucket of water.  I feel privileged indeed.   I hope we can further help this little school that has nothing.  My thanks to the people of Gunjara for their hospitality.

Pumbi Bhumdi & Rotary Meeting

Today we had an enjoyed visit to Pumbi Bhumdi where we saw the library that NEF provided and the computers donated by the Friends of the Qatar Wooden Spoon in Doha.  The children were just delightful and we were adorned with flower malas.  They told us how grateful they were for our help and how the school is progressing because of it.  Registration at the school is now rising.  Most importantly I was told that now the children love to come school because of the library and the computers and even ask if they can come in the school holidays.  They have a computer teacher who is teaching from class 3 up and is teaching them how to type and do basic things on paint etc. and they can also play games on the computers to help them learn how to use them.  On this visit we presented the school with $300 from the Qatar Friends to pay for school uniforms.  They were very happy.  We then were given a nice lunch of Dhal Bhat (rice and lentils) and takari (curried veg).  Although it is a government school they are introducing programs like that of a private school especially in English language classes. 

New computers

Children at Pumbi bhumdi School

Tonight we attended the Pokara Annupurna Rotary meeting and enjoy fellowship with them afterward.  This is always enjoyable as I have known them for a few years now and they are friends.  Tomorrow we go with them to the village of Gunjara where NEF is presenting new roofing material and some sport equipment.

New Program for Women

Today we went to Simpani and looked at a new handicraft program for some of our literacy women.  It involves making about 5 different items, two which we saw today.  One a very high quality basket which among other things is used when women visit the temple to take offerings in.  The other a mat for a teapot or other item or to put a vase on.  Then there are also coasters.  Other items I have not seen yet.  The items are made from a thick grass and some of the grass is dyed to make patterns in the weaving.  Apparently there is quite a market for these items and they are bought by a distributer in Lakeside here in Pokhara.  The teacher would need three months, six days per week for two hours a day to fully train ten women.  By the second month they should be able to sell some of their items if they are good enough.  After training they could work at home.  This type of work they could do if they have no other work or to subsidise their other income.  They could also teach their children.
It would cost us about $500 to run this program but I think it is worthwhile as the product was very good quality.  We have not made a decision yet as we wish to do a bit more research.
The sewing program we have decided to close as it was costing us too much money every month.  Also we have trained about 50 women and ten of these have already opened shops in the area.  I think that we do not want to flood the market and it is time to move on to something else.  We have given our two full time ladies a sewing machine each.  One, Maya, plans to return to her village and open a sewing shop there as the village does not have one.  She has been with us since the begining so is well trained.  Daumaya is going to do sewing at home.  I think it has been a successful program and has had a good outcome.
Today I also saw about 35 children of NEF's at High Mount School.  All looked well and happy.
Yesterday we drove high up to a village to look at a school.  It was on the Royal Trek route that Prince Charles did many years ago.  The views are superb but of course the weather was socked in yesterday and it seemed more like a rain forest.  The school had a building but no desks, teaching supplies etc.  and needed a wall so the children did not fall down the side of the mountain.


Basket







Tomorrow we go to Pumbi Bhumdi to see the work that we have completed there at the school.

Rabika who has no parents and lives with an aunty

Raining here like it was monsoon season. Very unusual for this time of year and as usual I left my umbrella in Kathmandu!!  Sorry these photos are jumbled up but it is very difficult to upload them with slow connections.

Some of our Students at High Mount



Table Mat



Photos



Sagar



Children at SBCH childen's home in hats donated by a friend



Smitri and Abeska on their way to school



Pinky & her mother

Smitri and Abeska have been sponsored for about five years now.  The improvement in them is quite incredible.  When Bob and I first saw them we were quite upset by their poor condition.  They are low caste children who we felt needed our help.  When I first put Abeska in school he did nothing but cry but as you can see by the photo they are doing very well today and happy to be in school.  Pinky is a sweet little girl with some bone problems and is tiny for her age of 8.  She is the mascot of the Pinky Fund in Qatar where she is sponsored and also the Qatar Friends of the Wooden Spooner provide money through NEF for school projects.  Sagar has been sponsored for about two years now.  He has a mother and baby sister living in a very small damp room.  We visited SBCH a couple of days ago and it was quite a delight to see all the children in this home doing well and they all seemed very happy.  SBCH is run by Mann's brother Kamal.   

Pokhara tomorrow

Tomorrow we leave on the bus for Pokhara and we will have a busy time there seeing our children and women in the literacy program.  We will also be visiting a very poor school that desperately needs some improvement.  We take the bus at 7 am and will arrive about 3 pm.

This photo is of Liza's school transportation, different kind of school bus and certainly environmently friendly.  Liza is Mann and Sima's little girl, Mann is NEF President and we share the apartment with them.
We visited several children this morning, one of them being Pinky who is the mascot of the Pinky Fund in Qatar.  More from Pokhara.

Kathmandu Children

Jitesh above and Deepesh below, two of our successful students.

We visited some of the Kathmandu children yesterday who are located in the centre of the city.  All were doing well.  Also saw Uma who I wrote about in the last post.  She is a fine young lady now.  The children are all growing up and some have been with us since the begining in 2004.
When we came home two young men Deepesh and Jitesh came to visit us.  They travelled two hours by bus to come.  I was so impressed with them, they are both in college and Jitesh is also working at a hotel.  They are about 18 and so very polite and respectful.  They have both been sponsored by NEF for many years and their sponsors would be very proud of them.  This morning another young man, Pasang, came to visit and he has just started college.  His father is a security guard at a building site and they live in a tin shack.  He also is a fine young man now.  We tend to focus on girls but our success with these boys is quite impressive.
Today we visited the Kathmandu Animal treatment Centre.  This small charity spay the female dogs in Kathmandu and also treats street dogs with mange and other injuries.  I always enjoy my visits here although it is sad to see the state of the dogs, they are doing great work.  Dr. Keith Grey from Duncan donated several boxes of Advantage Multi which I took and I gave some brushes and pens.  A very nice young volunteer from the US was working there for one year and showed us around.  This charity was started by a British lady and with her work she has stopped over 50,000 puppies from being born and this has stopped the poisoning of dogs in Kathmandu. 

Life in Nepal

Yesterday we had an easier day. The apartment kitchen needed new lino
as it was in tatters so we went into Patan which is a short ride in a
tempo, a three wheeled vehicle with as many people as can be squeezed
inside with some hanging off the back. Cost only ten rupees about 12
cents. We purchased the best quality in the shop for a cost of $60
and to my surprise the man said that included installation and it
would be done by 5 pm today and it was now early afternoon. How is
that for service? It looks very nice and so much cleaner. We had
lunch in a local restaurant of coffee and chips. I do not like french
fries in Canada but here in Nepal they call them finger chips and they
are delicious and the coffee is a milk coffee like my mother used to
make years ago. I suppose a true coffee drinker would not like it but
we do. Mann delivered some wedding invitations for their wedding in
two week's time.

Life here in Nepal is getting tougher with the rising prices
everywhere. We never eat in the tourist area or restaurants as the
prices have risen so much so when out we use Nepali restaurants for
half the price. Jobs for unskilled persons are very hard to find.
Mann's brother-in-law, Mohan, leaves for Qatar today to work in a
dairy and will be earning only $80 per week and he also has to pay
back his agent fee and airplane ticket over the next months. They
work long hours six days per week but he says it is better than not
working at all.

Uma, who I wrote about earlier here, has nearly finished her sewing
course and has also now got a job in the passport office as a cook.
Mann tells me that the sewing course really changed her and she became
a responsible young woman. So now she has a job and her sewing as
well. I am going to visit her home today. Uma gave us a lot of
frustration over the years but our patience and belief in her has paid
off and many thanks to her sponsor who never gave up on her either.

Now we are going to visit some children and will have more photos tomorrow.

Visiting Children

Today we visited some children and delivered some gifts and letters.

Most touching was a little girl, Samjhana, who lives downstairs from
us. Her sponsor is a pilot and sent her a large photo of him in the
cockpit holding Samjhana's photo. In a letter he told her that he
carries her photo with him wherever he flies so that she is also
travelling to these places. Watching her looking at the photo and
listening to the letter brought a lump in my throat. She is just such
a poor, hardworking little girl who always looks so sad. This brought
a bright spot to her life and was just so touching. When she is not
at school, she is cleaning, cooking and looking after her brothers.



Samjhana with the photo of her sponser


I also saw Pradip, Parmila and Sandeep today who were the first family
I sponsored. Now Pradip is in class ten. Both Pradip and Sandeep
spent time on the streets and with our help have turned their lives
around and now are respectable young men who are studying hard.


Sandeep

We visited the stone quarrey family which includes, Juni, Bijaya and Puja. They are all doing well and growing up fast. These families bring me a lot of satisfaction by their success and all of them live
in extreme poverty.


Juni

The weather is quite cool for this time of the year and we have had rain. We have three more days here in Kathmandu before leaving for
Pokhara.

Arrived

We arrived in Nepal on Friday just after midnight. It was a very long
journey and tiring journey. On the flight to Hong Kong a heavy
laptop fell from the overhead bin and hit my face but fortunately I am
okay. My glasses saved my eye but they are chipped and bent. I iced
my eye for an hour and then it started to feel better. I was lucky
not to have been seriously injured. The crew were very good to me and
gave us first class pyjamas and chocolates. Now I am walking around
the apartment in Chinese pyjamas!!!

When we arrived in Nepal we rushed to get at the begining of the visa
line up with our papers all filled out only to then realize I had lost
Bob's visa photos. We had to leave the line up and go through all my
things but no luck so Bob had to have another one taken in the
airport. Then we were at the back of the line and had to wait nearly
two hours finally leaving the airport at midnight. Mann and Jagat had
been waiting two and a half hours outside.

So today is Saturday and a holiday here. Tomorrow we will start visiting.

New Computers for Pumbi Bhumdi School

New computers, a printer and computer desks have been provided to the school at Pumbi Bhumdi through NEF by our donors in Doha, Qatar.  I am sure the children are very excited by this addition to their library which NEF donated earlier this year.  We will be visiting the school next month during our visit to Nepal.

Dental Program

We are still running our NEF dental program.  Approximately 200 children were treated this last year.  We would like them to be able to have yearly check ups to keep their dental health in check.  This can still be bought as a gift for someone for Christmas.  It costs $38 to buy a dental visit for a child.  The receipient will receive a card telling them of their gift and also some info on our dental program in Nepal.  Please keep this in mind.  It makes a really worthwhile gift.   

Back Home but Leaving for Nepal shortly

I am back home in Canada after an extended stay in England looking after my sick mother. 

We are now leaving for Nepal on November 1st.  I am willing to take letters and small gifts if they are delivered to me in good time.  Packing is always a huge job.  We will be there for the month of November.

I wish to thank Sandy at Valley Yoga for holding the golf tournament in September which raised $1230.00.
Apparently everyone had a good time and I am sorry to have missed it.  Thank you also to those who provided prizes for the raffle.  We had donated a hockey stick signed by the members of the LA Kings from a Banff game back in 1990.  This proved a very popular item.  Thanks to the donor.

Payments are now due for women's literacy as of this month and also sponsor money for the children by Jan. 15th. 

Sorry not to have updated this blog regularly lately but it has been a difficult time and I had to use library computers in England.  I will be updating very regularly while in Nepal so please check for news.

Away in England

Unfortunately I have not been able to add new posts to this blog as I am in England looking after my mother who has just had major surgery. 
I am in touch with our staff in Nepal and everything is fine there.  I hope to return to home to Canada in two weeks. 
Today Sat. Sept. 24th some sponsors are hosting a golf tournament and dinner as a fundraiser.  I wish them luck with this event and am very sorry that I am not able to attend. 

Fundraising Tea

The ladies of Saltair organized a delightful afternoon fundraising tea this last Saturday.  It was a rea English tea set in Sharon's garden with sandwiches, cakes and trifle set on tables and served on china.  All the ladies wore a hat and it was a very enjoyable event and $500.00 was raised for NEF.

A heartfelt thank you to these generous ladies and their friends and neighbours.  Unfortunately I forgot my camera so do not have a picture to add here.

Santi loses her Mother

Some of you will remember the story last year on this blog of the lady who nearly lost her foot.  On visiting her we found that she had a large ulcerated hole in her foot that was badly infected.  We took her to a private hospital where she received treatment and surgery and eventually skin grafting.  The infection was half way up her leg at the time so had we not visited at that time she likely would not only have lost her foot but her life.  She had no money for medical treatment and her sponsor paid for her hospital treatment.  She was also blind.  Unfortunately she died a couple of weeks ago.  We are not sure what the cause was other than it was a stomach problem.  She was never a well lady.  She leaves a five year old child, Santi, who now is in a small children's home run by Mann's wife, Sima.  Mann is NEF President in Nepal. Her father is not able to care for her as he is an alcoholic.  The bright side is that Santi is now being well cared for and is clean and well fed.  Before the school was always complaining about her dirty condition and attendance.  Santi is a bright little girl and I spoke to her on Skype a couple of weeks ago when she was visiting our office.  She was very outgoing and happy to talk with me.  Hopefully she will be happy in her new home.  She has lost her mother but now has a more stable future with regular food and education. 

Success Story of Uma

Uma has been sponsored through NEF since the begining in 2004.  She started school at age 11 as her family was too poor to pay her school fees.  Uma is bright and learned fast but she was always a long way behind her peers and the children in her classes were half her age.  She spent two years in a children's home at age 13 as her mother could not manage her.  Here she did well but after two years wanted to go home.  We enrolled her in a private school attended by her brothers and sister.  She progressed well for awhile and then started skipping school.  A year later she was missing from home for several weeks.  We do not know where she went during that time.  She returned to school promising us that she would improve and not be absent.  This lasted only a matter weeks and then she left school for good.  This was over a year ago now.  When I visited her in the spring of this year she was looking very forlorn and unhappy.  She asked me if I would give her another chance.  She realized it was too late for her to go back to school as again she would be in the same situation with younger children which she could not cope with.  When she was in the children's home she had learned some sewing and her sponsor had bought her a sewing machine.  I suggested that she could go to a sewing and tailoring course and learn this trade.  Fortunately she has a very good sponsor who has been to Nepal and met her.  The sponsor was willing to help in any way she could partly because when she visited Uma at her home and saw the poverty that she lived in she understood the difficults that Uma was experiencing.  Uma has now been in the sewing school for nearly two months and she has not missed a day.  Mann said she has improved so much and that he never thought it was possible.  When he goes to visit the home she is always there working with her sewing machine.  This is a girl who always ran off when she saw us coming.  Now he says she is a different person and her attitude has changed completely and for the good.  We are very happy that finally our persistance has paid off and we have helped this young lady find a purpose in her life.  Without NEF's help she would have had no chance and she would have been very vulnerable on the streets of Kathmandu where thousands of girls end of up in the sex trade in India. 

School Leaving Certificate Results

We had six children take their School Leaving Certificate exam and the results were just out a few days ago.  We have heard from five of the six students and those have all passed.  We are very happy for their success.  These children have been sponsored through NEF for quite a few years and it has paid off for them.  Now they wish to go to college and we have heard that most of the sponsors are willing to send them.  We also have seven students starting their second year of college and four that have completed their two years of college.  This is a great success for NEF and we are very happy with these results.  

Mann Has Been Sick

Mann, our NEF President in Nepal, had his appendics removed a couple of weeks ago.  He is feeling much better now.  He has to take it easy for awhile but is looking much better.

I have been away for ten days in the US.  Now that I am home I will get the newsletter out as soon as possible.  It has been a busy time with the garage sale and getting photos out to everyone.  Hopefully now I can catch up on some paperwork. 

Everything is fine in Nepal.  One of our students who left school last year has now realized she made a mistake and so her sponsor is paying for her to attend a sewing course so that she will have a trade.  She is too old to go back to school as she felt she was too far behind.  She has been at the sewing school about a month now and has been attending every day.  Hopefully this makes a difference for her and helps her future. 

Garage Sale Success

 Sandra, who has helped with the sale for six years running organizes the clothes.

Ali and Alice look at the quilts.

We had a very successful garage sale on Saturday.  Total raised so far is $3,400.46 with a few more items yet to sell.  It was a busy day and fortunately the rain held off.  Thank you to everyone who helped and donated items.  Special thanks to Barbara for running the sale and working so hard.  She also made some lovely children's quilts which we still have available.  It is a lot of hard work but paid off well.  We had many very good quality items and thank you to those who donated. 

Garage Sale Tomorrow

Tomorrow, Saturday 28th, is the sale from 8 am to 2 pm at 2167 Calais Rd.  We have lots of items, definitely something for everyone.  A big thank you to everyone who has donated.  We really appreciate it.  Now all we need is good weather which is in short supply these days.  I will post here what we make and how it goes. 

On a more serious note I have to report that Mann, NEF President in Nepal, had surgery a few hours ago for an appendicitis.  The surgery went well and he will be fine after a few days in hospital. 

Sanju Now has a Sponsor

Sanju has a sponsor now so thank you to the people who offered to sponsor her. 

A reminder about the garage sale next Saturday the 28th from 8am to 2pm.  We need volunteers so please contact me at 250-746-8936 if you can help.  Baking is also needed.  Either 6 muffins or 12 cookies which we will sell for $3 per package.  There will also be a new and nearly new table featuring home decor items.  Barbara has made lavender eye pillows which are great for relaxation which we all need!  Also if you have any items to donate please contact me.  This sale is an important fundraiser for NEF and in the previous five years it has always been a success thanks to all of you.

We now have a facebook page under Nepal Education Fund.  It is very new and I will be adding to it as time permits.  Please check it out.  I will also be getting a newsletter out very shortly.

Sanju Needs a Sponsor

Sanju needs a sponsor.  Someone offered to sponsor her back in March but has not paid or contacted us since. 

Sanju has no parents as her mother is dead and her father disappeared a long time ago.  She is 8 yrs old and in class 3.  She is pictured here on the left with the family that helps care for her.  Two families are helping her.  The two boys in the photo are also sponsored by NEF and the lady, Khimaya works in the NEF sewing shop and she is also in our literacy program.  The cost to sponsor Sanju is $100 per year and she goes to a government school.  She thinks she has a sponsor but unfortunately she now does not.